2025/26 entry
MSc Climate Change and Sustainability
About this course
This forward-thinking masters programme provides a unique opportunity to study climate change looking at innovative and positive strategies for monitoring and managing the impacts.
- Engage with applied issues in climate change and sustainability from an environmental perspective
- Taught by staff who are actively involved in climate change and sustainability research
- Study in state-of-the-art facilities including our geographic information systems computer suite and environmental analysis laboratory
- Learn to use industry-leading software for GIS and data analysis
- An extensive tutorial programme will develop your professional skills linked to employment
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This MSc will develop your practical skills and give you the platform to work in the environmental industry
In the first semester you will study three taught modules. During the Climate Change to 2100 module, you will develop your understanding of the physical basis of climate change before exploring impacts and social and political responses. On the Sustainable Infrastructure module you will develop your understanding of the operation, design and management of infrastructure. Finally on the Environmental Research Methods module you will work to develop your project management, GIS and data analysis skills.
During the second semester you will study three taught modules. On the Climate Change and GIS module you will develop your GIS skills whilst working on climate change case studies. On the Sustainable Environmental Management module you will explore current issues in sustainable environmental management, including response to hazards and ecosystem services. Finally on the Environmental Monitoring and Modelling module you will develop skills to be able to conduct field-based and desk-based investigations linked to aquatic pollution. In addition to the six taught modules you will complete a dissertation on a topic of your choice within the subject area.
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Go on a tour of the School of Biological and Environmental Sciences
Fees and funding
There are many ways to fund postgraduate study for home and international students
Fees
The fees quoted at the top of this page cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as:
- library membership with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources
- access to programme-appropriate software
- library and student IT support
- free on-campus wifi via eduroam
Additional costs
Although not all of the following are compulsory/relevant, you should keep in mind the costs of:
- accommodation and living expenditure
- books (should you wish to have your own copies)
- printing, photocopying and stationery
- PC/laptop (should you prefer to purchase your own for independent study and online learning activities)
- mobile phone/tablet (to access online services)
- field trips (travel and activity costs)
- placements (travel expenses and living costs)
- student visas (international students only)
- study abroad opportunities (travel costs, accommodation, visas and immunisations)
- academic conferences (travel costs)
- professional-body membership
- graduation (gown hire etc)
Funding
There are many ways to fund postgraduate study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you’ll find all of the information you need on our specialist postgraduate funding pages.
Please be aware that the UK’s departure from the EU may affect your tuition fees. Learn more about your fee status and which tuition fees are relevant to you.
Employability
Further your career prospects
LJMU has an excellent employability record with 96% (HESA 2018) of our postgraduates in work or further study six months after graduation. Our applied learning techniques and strong industry connections ensure our students are fully prepared for the workplace on graduation and understand how to apply their knowledge in a real world context.
You will develop advanced subject knowledge and high-level practical skills linked to careers in climate change and sustainability in the environment industry.
The student experience
Discover life as a postgraduate student at LJMU.
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Course modules
Discover the building blocks of your programme
Your programme is made up of a number of core modules which are part of the course framework. Some programmes also have optional modules that can be selected to enhance your learning in certain areas and many feature a dissertation, extended report or research project to demonstrate your advanced learning.
Core modules
Dissertation
60 credits
The aim of this module is to enable you to conduct independent scientific research under the guidance of an academic tutor. It gives you the opportunity to make a major contribution in a chosen subject area through a supervised programme of individual study. It also allows you to demonstrate your ability to carry out scientific research and to present findings as a scientific report.
Climate Change and GIS
20 credits
Students will develop high level understanding of how to capture, store, analyse, and visualise spatial data. Students will acquire subject and employment skills linked to professional and career development. This practical based module uses industry standard software to develop highly sought-after skills in GIS.
Environmental Research Methods
20 credits
This module covers all aspects of how to plan and execute a research project.
Climate Change to 2100
20 credits
This module aims to provides information on the physical basis of climate change and an introduction to its impacts and the social and political responses to those impacts, including the concepts of mitigation and adaptation and the public support for and tensions related to decarbonisation.
Sustainable Environmental Management
20 credits
The module will focus on current issues in sustainable environmental management. Assessments will be linked to communicating with non-academic audiences.
Environmental Monitoring and Modelling
20 credits
This module will develop hydrological and ecological monitoring and modelling skills and experience required by employers in the environmental management sector.
Sustainable Infrastructure
20 credits
This module will help you develop an understanding of the operation, design and management of infrastructure in both the Developing World and the Developed World. From this you will develop the capability for critical assessment of the sustainability of infrastructure in a wide variety of situations.
Teaching
An insight into teaching on your course
Study hours
Each taught module includes 40 hours of tuition. You will receive on average 12 hours per week of taught sessions.
Teaching methods
Taught sessions will include lectures, workshops, computer-based practicals, laboratory-based practicals, tutorials and fieldwork.
Teaching and learning will take place at LJMU, alongside fieldwork located in the UK. Research projects may involve data collection overseas subject to agreement with the academic advisor.
Assessment
How learning is monitored on your programme
To cater for the wide-ranging content of our courses and the varied learning preferences of our students, we offer a range of assessment methods on each programme.
A variety of assessments types are used. On the Climate Change to 2100 module you will be assessed by writing an essay and policy assessment. The Sustainable Infrastructure module will be assessed via a coursework portfolio and exam.
On the Environmental Research Methods module you will do two assessments. You will investigate a climate change or sustainability issue linked to either the LJMU estate or Liverpool city centre and present your findings during an oral presentation. You will also write a research proposal linked to your dissertation.
The Climate Change and GIS module will have two assessments. For the first assessment you will develop a climate change case study using GIS data and present the findings in a written report. For the second assessment you will explore an issue using GIS data and discuss your findings in an oral presentation.
The Sustainable Environmental Management module will include writing a stakeholder engagement plan before completing a second assessment to communicate ideas via a poster presentation. On the Environmental Monitoring and Modelling module, you will work in a group to produce an environmental consultancy report. For your Dissertation you will be required to write your research project in the format of a journal article.
Course tutors
Our staff are committed to the highest standards of teaching and learning
Dr Lee Bradley
Programme Leader
Lee is a Senior Lecturer at LJMU and leads the MSc Climate Change and Sustainability. He is passionate about developing students’ practical skills – whether this is on fieldwork, in the laboratory or exploring data using GIS software.
Working with students as they progress through their degree gives me a great sense of satisfaction as they prepare for careers with the potential to make a difference to the challenges we face in the future.
School facilities
What you can expect from your School
You will study at the City Campus located on Byrom Street. Practical sessions will be taught in our state-of-the-art facilities including our GIS suite and environmental analysis laboratory. The Avril Robarts Library is within easy walking distance.
Entry requirements
You will need:
Qualification requirements
Undergraduate degree
The minimum qualification for entry is a good first degree (2.2 Hons) in geography, environmental science or related field. Applicants who do not meet the normal entry requirement but have a good first degree and/or professional experience will be considered on their individual merits in relation to the proposed programme. Professional experience, publications, written reports, CPD activities and other suitable evidence of accomplishment will be taken into account.
International requirements
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IELTS
- a minimum 6.5 IELTS (with a minimum of 6.0 in each category).
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Other international requirements
Equivalent international qualifications will be considered, plus a minimum 6.5 IELTS (with a minimum of 6.0 in each category).
Further information
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Extra Requirements
You will need to:
- demonstrate sufficient knowledge to embark on the programme
- display the potential to develop high level research skills
- demonstrate the ability and commitment to work at postgraduate level
Application and selection
Securing your place at LJMU
To apply for this programme, you are required to complete an LJMU online application form. You will need to provide details of previous qualifications and a personal statement outlining why you wish to study this programme.
The University reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the University. Where this does happen, the University operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.